Boat-propelling means



Apr. 10,1923 v 1,451,563,

' C. J.' BAER BOAT" PROPELLING MEEANS Filed Nov. 1-7, 1919 2 sheets-sheet 1 Apr. i 10, 1923 1 c. J. BAER BOAT PROPELLING MEANS I 2 Sheets-sheet 2 Filed Nov. 1'7, 1919 Patented Apr. 10, 1923. v

. ri-train stars-s ,r;

cam. J. Bans, or RIVERSIDE, ILLINOIS.

f' BOAT-PROPELLING MEANS.

Application filedNovemher 17, 1919. "Serial No. 338,591.

To all whom it mag cancer: .Be it known that I, CARLJ. BAER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Riverside, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and usefullmprovements in Boat-Propelling Means,

of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in means for propelling or forcing boats through 't-l1e water and has for its object the provision of improvedmeans of this character, capable of propelling :or moving boats through the water with great efiiciency, and with a minimum resistance to the lift of the propelling elements out of the water. Other 7 objects will appear hereinafter. The invention consists in the combinations and arrangements of boats hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by I reference 'to the accompanying drawings,

for-minga partof this specification and in which:

F ig; 1 is a top plan View (of a boat equipped with propelling means embodying the invention.

Fig. 2. A side view ofthe same. I

Fig. 3. An enlarged 'detail plan view of a portion of one of two flexible endless chain propellers employed in the construction.

Fig. 4. A section taken on line 44 of Fi Fig. 5. An enlarged plan view of a portion of a modified form of construction of propelling means.

Fig. 6. Section taken on line 66' of F i 5. I

Fig. 7. Section taken on line 77 of F i The form of construction illustrated in Figs. 1 2, 3 and 4: comprises a boat body, '8, of any usual or desirable construction having propelling wheels or sprockets, 9', arranged on opposite sides thereof, said wheels being driven by suitable power contained within the boat (not shown). The wheels, 9, are arranged in pairs on opposite sides of the boat, 8, and flexible endless chain propellers or driving elements are arranged to operate over each pair of said wheels, the lower or rearwardly traveling portion of each propelling element being immersed in the water through which the boat travels. Each of the propelling elements consists of a plurality of substantially rectangular compartments, 10, preferably of sheet metal, and having perforated lugs or ears attheir ends pivotally connected-by means of pivot pins, 11,int0 an endless flexiblechain, traveling over the sprocket wheels,,9,- as shown. Each of the compartments 10, is dividedby I ment, both'above and below the partition, 12 are provided witlrperforations, 13,.permitting of the free escape of air therefrom a horizontal partition, 12, ofcorlcor other buoya'nt m terialand the sidewalls of each compartand also of the limited passage of water therethrough. By this arrangement a very effective driving engagement (with the water is effected. The "compartments are left entirely open at both top and bottom to permit of free entry of water thereto. The use of the compartments in an endlesschaimas described, causes each compartment to be presented tothe' water at an angle, as will be understood. The water immediately rushes into thecomp'a-rtment, expelling the.

air through the the time the compartment 'reaches a position approximately arallel-with the water line, it'is completely l i sistance'encountered by the boat in. its passage through the water. The net result is that the compartments have no relative movement with respect to the water, but

perforations 13 and, by

Med with water. I Theo 'retically *at least, the compartments which areffilled with water have a: combined inertia which is practically equal to the re merely push the boat forward therethrough.

As the compartments are lifted out of the water they are of course tilted, as shown in Fig. 2, and the water is automatically evacuated from the compartments in the same manner that they are automatically filled.

By this means, the propelling elements will remain, during operation, substantially stationary with reference tothe water in which they engage, theiroperation being substantially similarto that of the chain tractor elements on a land tractor, affording ample reaction for forcing the boat forward. The limited passage of the water through the perforationsin the walls of the compartv ment tend to create friction. thereon, thus adding to the tractiveforce available.

In the modified form of construction ilments l4, constituting the different members of the endlesschain propellersare made of considerable depth and substantially lustrated in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, the compartclosed at thetop, although perforations, 13, I

are provided in the Walls and top thereof,

for the free passage of air and thelimited p age f W te L The forward and rear walls of. compartments, 14, are covered first by a lining of foraminated material, such as burlap, 15, and

which is reinforced with a lining of a woven wire mesh material, 16, such arrangement tending to greatly increase the resistance offered to the bodily movement of the compertinent-s with reference to the "water in I which they operate and thus increasing their tractive, or moving force. Otherwise, the construction is the same as that already. described 1 While. I have illustrated and described I the preferred forms of constructionfor carrying my lnvention into effect, these are capable of variation and modification without. departing from the spirit of the invenstructed passage of air andwater in either direction. 1 s

2. A propelling elementv comprising .a

chambered structure provided with apertured walls, permitting the unobstructed! passage of air and water in either direction.

3. The combination with a boat, of propelling means therefor comprising endless flexible elements arranged to travel longitudinally thereof, said elements being provided with wate engaging members of foraminated material, permitting the unobstructed passage of air and Water in either direction.

4. Propelling means for boats comprising chambered elements provided with perforatedv walls permitting free passage of air, and instrumentalities adapted to successively present said elements to the water at an angle, whereby the. chem I bers thereof may be automatically filled with water, andto withdraw said elements from the waterat an angle, whereby td automatically discharge the water fromsaid chambers, substantially as described.

5. Propelling means for boats comprising a plurality of chambered elements provided with perforated walls permitting free passage of air, and having a combined water capacity suchthat the inertia of the filled chambers, when immersed in water, is sub? stantially equal to the resistance: offered to the passage of the boat through the water, and means for automatically filling said chambers as the elements are presented to the water, and for automatically emptying the chambers as the elements are withdrawn from the water, substantially as described.

, CARL J. BARR. Witnesses: I

Gno. S. Woo 1 G. IQHAR s 

